It is called Hibiscadelphus woodii and it is a splendid flower of Hawaii which has been considered extinct until now. But researchers found it flying over the Hawaiian skies via a drone. A sensational discovery that made scientists rejoice
It is called Hibiscadelphus woodii and it is a splendid flower of Hawaii which has been considered extinct until now. But researchers found it flying over the Hawaiian skies via a drone. A sensational discovery that made scientists rejoice.
They were identified by researchers from the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) in Kauai. The plant, called Hibiscadelphus woodii, was rediscovered in a small colony of three individuals growing on a vertical rock face in a remote area of Kauai's Kalalau Valley.
The region is a known biodiversity hotspot in the Hawaiian Islands, largely inaccessible to humans. Listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, H. Woodii thrives only on the island of Kauai. The plant was last seen alive in 2009. From that moment on it was never observed and scientists hypothesized its extinction.
First discovered in 1991, the species was officially named and made known in 1995. At the time, the discovery brought the number of Hibiscadelphus to 7, all limited to the Hawaiian Islands. The eighth species, H. stellatus, was discovered on Maui in 2012. Prior to this, the 6 species of Hibiscadelphus were considered extinct. The other two survivors were H. distans on Kauai and H. stellatus on Maui.
Hibiscadelphus woodii is a small shrub and produces bright yellow flowers that become purplish when they get older. Rich in nectar, they are probably pollinated by native birds, including amakihi. Efforts to propagate H. woodii were unsuccessful.
Like other endangered native Hawaiian species, H. woodii sadly had to contend with threats from invasive plants and from animals introduced by man into their habitat but at the end of the 90s, the falling rocks seriously affected the known colony decreeing its disappearance.
The rediscovery of H. woodii offers new hope to biologists, who believe that other species considered extinct can still survive in areas that are difficult to access.
NTBG's director of science and conservation, David Lorence, said:
"Drones are unlocking a treasure trove of unexplored rock habitats, and while this may be the first discovery of its kind, I'm sure it won't be the last."
A great news and we hope it is only the first of many.
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